Competitive vehicle demolition game

ABSTRACT

Toy cars operate on independent roadways having multiple intersection points. Switches are provided for steering each vehicle toward or away from the intersections to control the time of entry of the cars into the intersections. Each cars comprises a plurality of releasably assembled body elements held in assembled condition by a latch including a depending post attached to the roof element and extending through an opening in a web member. A tooth on the post and a tooth extending into the opening of the web member interengage to hold the post down against the bias of a post encircling spring. A depending side panel is attached to each end of the web member. Impact on either side member due to a collision of the cars at one of the intersections causes lateral movement of the web to disengage the teeth with the resulting car disassembly.

Waited States Patent Cooper [54] COMPETITIVE VEHICLE DEMOLITION GAME[75] Inventor: Julius Cooper, New Hyde Park,

[73] Assignee: Ideal Toy Corporation, Hollis, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 88,436

[52] 11.8. Cl. ..273/85 R, 46/202, 273/102 A, 273/127 A [51] Int. Cl..A63t9/00 [58] Field of Search ..273/85 R, 102 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,206,122 9/1965 Frisbie eta1 ..273/86 B X 2,757,482 8/1956 Brown et a1. ..46/201 3,176,429 4/1965Brown et a1. ..46/201 X 1,859,100 5/1932 Lewis .273/102.l C 3,481,06712/1969 Cooper ..46/202 X 2,503,877 4/1950 Koemmerlein et a1 ..273/102.1C 3,402,503 9/1968 Glass et al. ..273/86 B X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 615,654 1949 Great Britain ..273/102.1 C

Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. ShapiroAttorney-Richard M. Rabkin [57] ABSTRACT Toy cars operate on independentroadways having multiple intersection points. Switches are provided forsteering each vehicle toward or away from the intersections to controlthe time of entry of the cars into the intersections. Each carscomprises a plurality of releasably assembled body elements held inassembled condition by a latch including a depending post attached tothe roof element and extending through an opening in a web member. Atooth on the post and a tooth extending into the opening of the webmember interengage to hold the post down against the bias of a postencircling spring. A depending side panel is attached to each end ofthe. web member. Impact on either side member due to a collision of thecars at one of the intersections causes lateral movement of the web todisengage the teeth with the resulting car disassembly.

15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEU HAY 2 2 I973 SHEET 2 [IF 5INVENTOR. JULIUS COOPER I I. W .1

PATENTED HAY 2 219B SHEET 3 [IF 5 INVENTOR. JULIUS COOPER WHEN I LU 1 mSHEET a 0? 5 INVENTOR, JULIUS COOP W fin @4264;

PATENTEUHAYQQ 1075 SHEET 5 OF 5 FIG) 1 COMPETITIVE VEHICLE DEMOLITIONGAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a game employingtoy vehicles, in which two players compete to see which one can demolishthe others vehicle; and to vehicles specially designed for such a game.

THE PRIOR ART There are many games in which self-propelled toy vehicles,e.g. automobiles, traverse a miniature roadway. Some of these games alsohave means controllable by a player for steering the toy automobiles inalternative directions when they enter specially designed intersectionsprovided with steering switches. It is also known to provide means onthe roadway for stopping and retaining one of the toy automobiles for aselected period of time. None of these games, however, involves theconcept of competitive demolition.

Also known are various toy automobiles assembled of readily separableparts which fly apart upon impact, to simulate the disintegration of avehicle involved in a collision. These vehicles, however, are allincapable of distinguishing between the various directions from whichthe disintegrating impact may arrive. They fall apart about as readilyin response to impact from the front, back or sides.

Consequently these toy vehicles are not very suitable for a competitivedemolition game. Their lack of directional preference makes itimmaterial which vehicle rams the other. Even if a player succeeds inramming the front of his own vehicle against the side of his opponents,his own vehicle would be as likely to disintegrate from the impact. Thisdeprives the winner of the psychological satisfaction of demolishing thelosing car while his own remains intact, and also makes it moredifficult for the players to judge who won.

THE INVENTION This invention provides a toy vehicle composed of separateparts releasably retained in assembled relationship. There is a triggerwhich includes one or more target members disposed on the exterior ofthe vehicle at one or preferably both sides. Broadside impact upon oneof these target members causes the trigger to release the vehicle parts,and thereby permit disintegration. Thus, if the player succeeds inramming the front of his vehicle against the side of his opponentsvehicle, only the latter will disintegrate. The other vehicle willremain intact, indicating its victory over the disintegrated one in amanner which is both unambiguous and satisfying to ones competitiveimpulses.

In addition to vehicles of the type just described, the invention alsoprovides a roadway with at least one grade intersection, and means forcontrolling the entry of such vehicles into that intersection, in orderto set up a competitive situation testing the relative abilities of theopposing players to maneuver their vehicles into front-to-side rammingrelationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apreferred embodiment of a controllable roadway for use in the game ofthis invention. I

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a toy vehicle in accordance with thisinvention, which is designed to be propelled along the roadway ofFIG. 1. In this view, the onoff switch of the vehicle is in the offposition.

FIG. 3 is a similar but fragmentary view of the same vehicle, showingthe on-off switch in the on position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which thevehicle of FIGS. 2 and 3 is guided along the roadway of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the player-operated steering mechanismof the roadway in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the triangular steering switch ofthat mechanism, showing its location and movement in relation to aroadway intersection.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts of the vehicleof FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, some of which are separable to simulate itsdisintegration during a collision.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, with parts broken away for clarity ofillustration, showing one such vehicle ramming broadside againstanother, resulting in the disintegration of the latter vehicle.

FIG. 9 is a vertical section of one of the vehicles, taken along thelines 9-9 of FIG. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows, andshowing the separable parts in their assembled and latched condition.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of portions of both vehicles, with partsof one broken away for clarity of illustration, and showing the movementof the member which triggers disintegration upon impact.

FIG. 11 is a horizontal section, taken along the lines 1 1-11 of FIG. 9looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the vehiclemechanism in its latched condition to hold the parts in assembledrelationship.

And FIG. 12 is a horizontal section similar to FIG. 11, but showing thelatch mechanism as it is released in response to broadside impact byanother vehicle.

The same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughtout allthe views of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates atoy vehicular roadway 10 which is one lane wide throughout, and has aguide groove 12 running along the middle. The roadway comprises twoseparate circuits generally designated 14 and 16 respectively. The majorportion of each of these circuits has a configuration which may bedescribed as the topological equivalent of a figure 8, in the sense thatit comprises opposed loops separated by a crossover. Thus, circuit 14comprises a left loop 14a and a right loop 14b (as seen in FIG. 1), witha central crossover 14c; while circuit 16 comprises a left loop 16a anda right loop 16b, with a central crossover 160. In addition, circuits 14and 16 include bridging paths 14d and 16d respectively which connecttheir respective opposite loops 14a, 14b and 16a, 16b.

Each roadway is traversed by its own toy vehicle 17, of the type seen inFIG. 2. These cars are driven by small internal electric motors and haveself-contained power supplies consisting of miniature dry cells. Anonoff switch 18 makes or breaks the motor energizing circuit. The switchis seen in the off position in FIG. 2, and in FIG. 3 it is rotated (seearrow 20) to the on position.

When energized, the motor drives rear wheels 22 through a drive trainincluding gear 23. The front wheels 24 are pivotable in the conventionalmanner for steering purposes, by means of a steering linkage 26 seen inFIGS. 2 and 4. The steering linkage is operated by a depending pin 28which extends downwardly into the central groove 12 of each roadwaycircuit 14 and 16. On curved sections of the roadway, the correspondingcurvature of the groove 12 moves the pin 28 sidewardly to turn thesteeringwheels 24 and thus guide the car 17 around the curve.

The points where the bridging paths 14d and 16d join their respectivefigure 8 loops 14a and 14b or 16a and 16b (see FIG. 1), may be referredto as switching locations 14e, 14f, 16e and 16f respectively. Each iscontrolled by a concavely curved triangular switch member 30 which isunder the control of one of two steering wheels 32. This is a game ofcompetition between two players, one of whom controls the switchingmembers at locations 14e and 14f by means of steering wheel 32.1, andthe other controls the switch members at locations 16e and 16f by meansof steering wheel 32.2.

As seen in FIG. 5, each steering wheel 32 rotates an eccentric pin 36which traverses a yoke 38 to the right or left, (see arrow 40),depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel. The yoke 38 hasopposed arms 42 and 44 each of which operates one of the two triangularswitching members 30 controlled by that particular steering wheel. Thisis accomplished through a friction coupling between members 46 and 48which are secured respectively to the arms 42 and 44 and the triangularswitching members 30. (Only one set of fric tional coupling members 46,48 and its associated switching member 30 are shown in FIG. Motion ofthe arm 42 or 44 and its frictional coupling member 46 in eitherdirection indicated by arrow 40 drives the associated frictionalcoupling member 48 in the corresponding direction, as indicated byarrows 50. This results in a concomitant pivoting motion of theassociated switching member 30 about a pivot pin 54, in one of thedirections indicated by arrows 52.

FIG. 6 illustrates the alternative limiting positions to which each ofthe triangular switching members 30 can be moved about their pivot pins54. At each switching point, one limiting position of the switch member30 serves to block off a first one of two alternative branches of theguide groove 12, and open up the second alternative branch, while theopposite limiting position of the switch member 30 produces the oppositeresult. This is true, furthermore, at each of the three vertices of thetriangular switching member 30.

As so far described, self-propelled vehicles and cooperating roadways ofthis general type are conventional in the toy field. Additional detailsof the operation of the triangular switching member 30, for example, areto be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,067 of J. Cooper.-

In playing the game of this invention, two competing players operate twocars 17. One car is placed in motion in an arbitrary direction aboutcircuit 14,. and is under the exclusive control of one player operatingsteering wheel 32.1; while the other car is placed in motion in anarbitrary direction along the circuit 16 and is under the exclusivecontrol of the opposing player operating steering wheel 32.2. Suchexclusivity is a consequence of several facts: First, the circuits 14and 16 are completely isolated from each other, in the sense that a cartraversing either circuit can not be steered onto the other. Second, allthe triangular steering members 30 of circuit 14 (at locations 14e and14f) are under the control of the player using steering wheel 32.1,whileall those of circuit 16 (at locations 16e and 16f) are under the controlof the player using steering wheel 32.2. In addition, each of theroadway loops l4 and 16 is provided with a vehicle braking and retainingmechanism 62.1 and 62.2 respectively, which is under the exclusivecontrol of the operator of that loop, permitting him to capture hisvehicle 17 if he chooses and hold it at that location until he is readyto release it. Braking mechanisms for use with vehicles of the typeillustrated herein are already known and described in US. Pat.application Ser. No. 868,437, filed Oct. 22, 1969 and now U.S. Pat. No.3,618,947.

Each of the switching locations 14e, 14f, 16e and 16f is at the junctionof three roadway branches. As an illustrative example, switchinglocation 14e constitutes the junction of two sections of figure 8 loop14a and one end of the bridging path 14d; and similarly for the otherswitching locations 14f, 16e and 16f. Each of the triangular switchingmembers 30 achieves triangular switching symmetry, in the sense that acar 17 which enters the switching location along any one of the threesections can be steered in such a manner as to exit from that locationalong either of the other two sections, according to the wishes of theplayer operating the associated steering wheel 32. Using switchinglocation 14e as an illustrative example once again, a car entering thatlocation from the left section of loop 14a (from the viewpoint ofFIG. 1) can be diverted either to the right section of loop 14a or tothe bridging path 14d. On the other hand, a car entering from the rightsection of loop 14a can be diverted either to the left section of loop14a or again to the bridging path 14d. Finally, a car entering switchinglocation 14e from the bridging path 14d can be diverted to eithersection of loop 14a. A similar analysis can be made of each of the otherswitching locations 14f, 16e and 16f.

Although circuits 14 and 16 are mutually isolated in the sense justdescribed, they do intersect at four locations 60. The decisive actionof the game takes place at these intersections, for it is only therethat the respective toy vehicles 17 of the two competing players cancollide. The outcome of such a collision is determined by the relativeskills of the opposing players in utilizing their respective steeringwheels 32 and brakes 62 to determine the exact time of entry of theirrespective vehicles 17 into the critical intersections 60. The object ofthe game for each player is to cause a broadside collision at one of theintersections in which ones own vehicle rams its front end againsteither side of the opponents vehicle. The cars 17 are so designed thatonly the one which is struck broadside will disintegrate, while the onewhich absorbs the impact upon its front end will not disintegrate. Thena convenient visual comparison of the relative conditions of the twocars will indicate, in a clear and satisfying manner, that the playercontrolling the disintegrated car is the loser, and the playercontrolling the intact car is the winner.

This preferential directional aspect of vehicle disintegration is bestexplained by reference to FIGS. 7 through 12. FIG. 7 illustrates theparts of a vehicle 17 in disassembled relationship. These include a body70, which contains the electric motor, the batteries, the onoff switch18, the wheels 22 and 24 and the steering linkage 26. The other partsare a trigger 72, a retaining member 74 and a roof member 76. It is theroof member 76 which is separated spontaneously from the remainder ofthe vehicle in response to a broadside collision.

The body 70 has a central region which forms a flat platform 80. Thetrigger 72 comprises a flat horizontal web 84 which rests on theplatform 80, and is somewhat wider than the platform in the lateraldirection. Depending from the opposite sides of the web 84 arerespective target panels 86. Because the web 84 is wider than table 80,the trigger member 72 is allowed some lateral movement, illustrated byarrows 88, before either one of the panels 86 strikes the adjacent sideof the body 76. The lateral motion of the trigger member 72 is alsolimited by a tooth or projection 73 formed on the body member 70 whichrides in a laterally elongated slot 75 formed in the web 84 of trigger72. This lateral freedom permits the trigger member 72 to move inresponse to broadside impact upon either one of the target panels 86.

The retaining member 74 overlies the horizontal web 84 and is formedwith front and rear depending tabs 90 and 92 respectively which snapinto engagement with openings 94 and 96 respectively formed on the body70, fore and aft of the platform 80. When the retaining member 74 isthus placed over the trigger 72 and snapped into engagement with thebody 70, it serves to retain the trigger 72 in assembly with the body70, without restricting its lateral movement.

The separable roof member 76 fits over the retaining member 74 andincludes a depending latching and spring-retaining post 98 which, whenthe entire car is assembled, extends downwardly through a circularopening 100 formed in the retaining member 74, an oversized rectangularopening 102 formed in the horizontal web 84, and an opening 82 formed inplatform 80. The roof member 76 is prevented from moving laterallyrelative to the body member 70 by the engagement of post 98 within theopening 82, and also by the engagement of the rear deck 77 of roofmember 76 between a pair of longitudinal ribs 79 at the rear of the bodymember. The post 98 is surrounded by a coil spring 104 which is firstcompressed to store energy, and later expands to separate the roofmember 76 from the remainder of the vehicle assembly 17, as indicated byarrow 106 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 also illustrates the fact that when two vehicles 17 collide atone of the intersections 60, only the vehicle 17.1 which is struck onone of its target panels 86 disintegrates by separation of its roofmember 76 from the remainder of the vehicle. The other vehicle 17.2,which absorbs the impact on its front end 108, does not disintegrate.Vehicles of this nature are ideally suited for the competitivedemolition game of this invention, by clearly revealing, in apsychologically satisfying manner, which player won and which playerlost.

Arrow 88 in FIG. 8, or a comparison of the dashed line and solid linerepresentations of trigger member 72 of vehicle 17.1 in that figure,reveal that the trigger member is moved to the leftward limit of itslateralmotion in response to the impact of vehicle 17.2. It isthismotion which permits the coil spring 104 to expand, thus dislodging theroof member 76. The manner in which this trigger motion releases thespring is seen in FIGS. 9 through 12, which will now be discussed.

The post 98 is a substantially cylindrical member, but is formed with aflat surface 98a on the rear side thereof (see also FIGS. 1 1 and 12),and with protuberances 98b at the upper end thereof (FIG. 9). Biasingspring 104 is generally conical in shape. It has a relatively smalldiameter at the upper end thereof, causing the uppermost coils to have afriction fit relationship with the protuberances 98b, for securing thespring to the post 98. The lower end of spring 98, on the other hand,has a sufficiently large diameter to allow it to be compressed andexpanded without interference from the post 98.

In FIG. 9 it is seen that the post 93 extends downwardly from roofmember 76 and through openings 100, 102 and 82 so that the lower end ofthe post 98 is below the bottom surface of the web 84 of trigger member72. At the lower end of the post a latching tooth 1 10 projectsrearwardly from the flat surface 98a. A cooperating latching tooth 112(best seen in FIGS. 7, 11 and 12) projects from the trigger member web84 into the opening 102. Because the tooth is below the web 84, tooth112 is in position to overlie tooth 110 and engage vertically therewithas illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. When these teeth engage in thatmanner, the roof member 76 and post 98 cannot be disengaged upwardlyfrom the body member 70, because the upper tooth 112 of web 84 restrainsupward motion of the lower tooth 110, and therefore of the post 98 androof member as well.

When roof member 76 is assembled with the remainder of the vehicle 17 asillustrated in FIGS 9 through 11, the biasing spring 104 is compressedbetween the roof member 76 and the retaining member 74. It thereforeexerts a continuous upward biasing force on the roof member, but thelatching engagement of teeth 1 10 and 112 prevents the roof member frombeing dislodged. The restraining engagement between latching teeth 110and 112, however, can only be achieved when the trigger member 72 issomewhat centrally located between its two lateral extremes of motion.The lateral dimensions of the teeth 110 and 112 are small enough so thatthey do not engage with each other if the trigger member 72 is moved agiven distance to either side of its central position. If the triggermember 72 is displaced sufficiently far to either side, the lowerlatching tooth 110 is able to rise upwardly through the rectangularopening 102 formed in trigger web 84, on one side or the other of theupper latching tooth 112, depending upon the direction of lateraltriggering motion of the member 72.

Consequently, an impact delivered against a target panel 86 of thetrigger member of a vehicle 17 is effective to dislodge the triggermember 72, and thus release the roof member 76 thereof so that it popsabruptly upwardly in response to the biasing spring 104, as shown byarrow 106. The triggering impact can be delivered against the targetpanel 86 on either side of the vehicle, but no other location is capableof triggering vehicle disintegration. In particular, impact against thefront end 108 of each vehicle is not capable of dislodging member 72 totrigger such disintegration. In any collision of the kind illustrated inFIGS. 8, 10 and 12, therefore, one car 17.1 will disintegrate afterbroadside impact, while the other 17.2 will survive by absorbing theimpact on its front end 108.

Accordingly, this game tests the relative abilities of the opposingplayers to sense when their vehicles are on a collision course, andwhich player will be favored by the timing of the collision. When oneplayer detects a collision course favoring the other player, the gamethen tests his ability to react quickly, and to use his brake to stophis car or his steering mechanism to divert his car from the particularintersection 60 at which this unfavorable collision is about to takeplace. If the player senses that a collision course is favorable to him,on the other hand, he allows his vehicle to proceed without any steeringor brakingcorrection, in the hope that his opponent will not realizewhat is happening or will not react in time to change the situation.

In reassembling a vehicle 17 after collision, the player merely slidesthe trigger member 72 thereof to one extreme lateral position or theother, allowing clearance alongside the upper latching tooth 112 for thelower latching tooth 110 to pass by as the post 98 is inserted into theopenings 100, 102 and 82. Then the player moves the trigger member 72back into the central position illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11, sothat the teeth 1 10 and 112 are again engaged in latching relationship,holding the entire car 17 in assembly until the next time there is animpact upon one of the target panels 86.

It will now be appreciated that this invention provides a uniquecompetitive game in which a pair of toy cars race around mutuallyintersecting paths, the timing of their entry into the intersectionsbeing controlled by the players. If one of the cars rams its front endagainst a side target area of the other, the latter car will pop apart,indicating that the player controlling that car has lost the game. Theother car, however, will remain in its assembled condition, indicatingin a way that is both clear and psychologically satisfying to thecompetitive instinct, that the player controlling that car has won thegame.

The foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative ofvarious alternative structures in which the invention may be embodied.As an example of one such variation, the member which is displaced inresponse to a preferential collision direction need not be part of thebody of the vehicle itself; it may instead be a collision indicator ofsome other type which is incorporated within the vehicle but does notsimulate a roof or any other body member, Accordingly, the scope ofprotection of the invention has been more broadly stated in thefollowing claims; and these should be liberally interpreted so as toobtain the benefit of all equivalents to which the invention is fairlyentitled.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A game apparatus comprising a vehicular roadway including at leasttwo separate and independent vehicle tracks and at least one gradeintersection between said tracks at which said tracks cross each other,at least two toy vehicles respectively associated with said tracks formovement only along their respective tracks and through saidintersection, said intersection being formed to permit only broadsidecollisions between vehicles on the respective tracks as the vehiclespass through said intersection, means for controlling the time of entryof at least one of said vehicles into said intersection, and at least afirst one of said vehicles including trigger means for actuation inresponse to a broadside impact by a second one of said vehicles passingthrough said intersection along its associated track and normallyinoperative indicator means to generate an indication of said broadsidecollision, said trigger means including at least one target memberlocated on the side of said first vehicle in position to be struck byone end of said second vehicle during a broadside collision at saidintersection, whereby an indication of the broadside collision is thusgenerated by the indicating means of said first vehicle when it isstruck on its side by said second vehicle. I

2. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first vehicle comprises aplurality of discrete parts, said indicator means includes assemblymeans for releasably securing said parts together to form said firstvehicle and operable in response to said trigger means to permit saidparts to disengage whereby to simulate disintegration of said firstvehicle, and said trigger means is responsive to impact on said targetmember to permit said first vehicle parts to disengage whereby saidcollision results in disintegration of said first vehicle.

3. A game apparatus as in claim 2 wherein each one of said vehiclescomprises a plurality of discreet parts, trigger means located on atleast one side thereof, assembly means for releasably securing saidparts together to form said vehicles and operable in response to saidtrigger means to permit said parts to disengage whereby to simulatedisintegration of said vehicle, said trigger means including at leastone target member and being responsive to impact on said target memberto permit said vehicle parts to disengage, and said target members beingdisposed on the exterior of said vehicles in position to be struck bythe other of said vehicles in a broadside collision at saidintersection, resulting in disintegration of the struck vehicle.

4. Game apparatus as in claim 3 wherein each of said vehicles has afront and sides, and the respective target members of said vehicles aredisposed so as to respond only to impact upon a side of the respectivevehicles in a broadside collision, whereby when the front of one vehiclestrikes the side of another, only the vehicle struck on its sidedisintegrates.

5. Game apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising means mounting saidtrigger for movement in both lateral directions relative to saidvehicle, said assembly means being responsive to movement of saidtrigger in either of said lateral directions to permit disengagement ofsaid vehicle parts, and said target members being disposed on oppositesides of said vehicle whereby to be effective to trigger said vehicledisintegration in response to a broadside impact from either side.

6. Game apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said assembly means comprisesbiasing means urging said vehicle parts apart, and latch means forretaining said vehicle parts in assembly in opposition to said biasingmeans, said latch means being releasable in response to movement of saidtrigger means whereby said biasing means then abruptly disperses saidvehicle parts.

7. Game apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said first vehicle parts includea roof member and a body which are assemblable and disassemblable witheach other, said latch means comprises a post projecting downwardly fromsaid roof member toward said body, said biasing means comprises a springcoiled about said post and compressed to bias said roof member upwardlyout of assembly with said body, said latch means further comprises meanson said post and on said trigger means vertically interengaging toprevent said upward motion of said roof member when said interengagingmeans are in vertical alignment, and disengaging upon lateraldisplacement of said trigger means during a broadside collision.

8. Game apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said trigger means comprises acentral web extending transversely through said vehicle between saidroof member and said body, said target member comprises at least onepanel depending from said web at the side of said vehicle, an openingbeing formed in said web to receive said post, said interengaging meanscomprising a tooth formed on said post and a trigger tooth projectingfrom the boundary of said web opening to engage said post tooth, saidweb opening being large enough in the lateral direction to permitsufficient movement of said trigger means in at least one lateraldirection relative to said post to dislodge said trigger means toothfrom said post tooth, and said trigger being movable in at least onelateral direction relative to said roof member in response to lateralimpact upon said target panel whereby to dislodge said trigger toothlaterally.

9. Game apparatus as in claim 8 wherein there are two of said targetpanels depending from said web at opposite sides of said vehicle, saidweb opening being large enough in both lateral directions to permitsufficient movement of said trigger means in either lateral directionrelative to said post to dislodge said trigger tooth from said posttooth, and said trigger means being movable in either lateral directionrelative to said roof member in response to impact upon respective onesof said target panels whereby to dislodge said trigger tooth laterally.

10. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means to control entryinto said intersection comprises means under the control of said playerfor steering said at least one of the vehicles toward or away from saidintersection along a portion of its associated track.

11. Game apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said steering means comprisesswitching means in said roadway for selecting a path of travel alongsaid one vehicles associated track, steerable means on at least said onevehicle, and means on said one vehicle responsive to said switchingmeans to steer said wheels.

12. Game apparatus as in claim 11 wherein each of said tracksrespectively comprises at least one circuit with a configurationtopologically equivalent to a figure 8 and an additional path bridgingbetween the opposite loops of said figure 8, and said switching meanscomprise a switch controllable by said player at each intersection ofsaid bridging path with each of said figure 8 loops.

13. Game apparatus as in claim 12 wherein each of said switchescomprises a triangular member having three vehicle-diverting verticeseffective (a) to determine whether said one vehicle, when approachingsaid switch in either direction from said figure 8 will continue alongsaid figure 8 or be diverted to said bridg- 10 ing path, and (b) todetermine in which direction said one vehicle will traverse said figure8" when approaching said switch from said bridging path.

14. A simulated toy vehicle having a front and sides comprising, aplurality of releasably assemblable body elements including a lower bodyelement and a roof element, latch means normally restraining separationof said lower body element and said roof element and being releasable inresponse to a broadside impact, said latch means including,

trigger means having a central web extending transversely through saidvehicle between said assemblable elements, and a pair of target panelsdepending from said web along opposite sides of said vehicle, said webbeing wider than said lower body element whereby said target panels arenormally spaced from the sides thereof, said lower body element beingformed to define a guide platform in which said web is slidably receivedfor lateral movement in response to a broadside impact on either one ofsaid target panels,

a web retaining plate secured to said lower body element and extendingacross said guide platform above said web to retain said web on saidplatform at all times, said web and said retaining plate havingcentrally located apertures formed therein generally located in verticalalignment with each other,

a post formed on said roof element and extending towards said lower bodyelement, said post having a free end extending through said openings insaid web and said web retaining plate in the assembled configuration ofsaid vehicle; and biasing spring encircling said post and beingcompressed between said roof element and said web retaining plate in theassembled configuration of said vehicle;

said post having a first tooth formed on the free end thereof and saidweb having a second tooth projecting inwardly from the boundary of saidweb opening and located to engage said first tooth, thereby to preventdisassembly of said elements, said web opening being large enough inboth lateral directions to permit sufficient movement of said triggermeans in either lateral direction relative to said post to dislodge saidfirst tooth from said second tooth upon lateral movement of said web ineither direction in response to a broadside impact on one of said targetpanels.

15. A toy vehicle as defined in claim 14 wherein said web and lower bodyelement have cooperating slot and stop elements formed therein forlimiting lateral movement of said web.

1. A game apparatus comprising a vehicular roadway including at leasttwo separate and independent vehicle tracks and at least one gradeintersection between said tracks at which said tracks cross each other,at least two toy vehicles respectively associated with said tracks formovement only along their respective tracks and through saidintersection, said intersection being formed to permit only broadsidecollisions between vehicles on the respective tracks as the vehiclespass through said intersection, means for controlling the time of entryof at least one of said vehicles into said intersection, and at least afirst one of said vehicles including trigger means for actuation inresponse to a broadside impact by a second one of said vehicles passingthrough said intersection along its associated track and normallyinoperative indicator means to generate an indication of said broadsidecollision, said trigger means including at least one target memberlocated on the side of said first vehicle in position to be struck byone end of said second vehicle during a broadside collision at saidintersection, whereby an indication of the broadside collision is thusgenerated by the indicating means of said first vehicle when it isstruck on its side by said second vehicle.
 2. Game apparatus as in claim1 wherein said first vehicle comprises a plurality of discrete parts,said indicator means includes assembly means for releasably securingsaid parts together to form said first vehicle and operable in responseto said trigger means to permit said parts to disengage whereby tosimulate disintegration of said first vehicle, and said trigger means isresponsive to impact on said target member to permit said first vehicleparts to disengage whereby said collision results in disintegration ofsaid first vehicle.
 3. A game apparatus as in claim 2 wherein each oneof said vehicles comprises a plurality of discreet parts, trigger meanslocated on at least one side thereof, assembly means for releasablysecuring said parts together to form said vehicles and operable inresponse to said trigger means to permit said parts to disengage wherebyto simulate disintegration of said vehicle, said trigger means includingat least one target member and being responsive to impact on said targetmember to permit said vehicle parts to disengage, and said targetmembers being disposed on the exterior of said vehicles in position tobe struck by the other of said vehicles in a broadside collision at saidintersection, resulting in disintegration of the struck vehicle.
 4. Gameapparatus as in claim 3 wherein each of said vehicles has a front andsides, and the respective target members of said vehicles are disposedso as to respond only to impact upon a side of the respective vehiclesin a broadside collision, whereby when the front of one vehicle strikesthe side of another, only the vehicle struck on its side disintegrates.5. GaMe apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising means mounting saidtrigger for movement in both lateral directions relative to saidvehicle, said assembly means being responsive to movement of saidtrigger in either of said lateral directions to permit disengagement ofsaid vehicle parts, and said target members being disposed on oppositesides of said vehicle whereby to be effective to trigger said vehicledisintegration in response to a broadside impact from either side. 6.Game apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said assembly means comprisesbiasing means urging said vehicle parts apart, and latch means forretaining said vehicle parts in assembly in opposition to said biasingmeans, said latch means being releasable in response to movement of saidtrigger means whereby said biasing means then abruptly disperses saidvehicle parts.
 7. Game apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said firstvehicle parts include a roof member and a body which are assemblable anddisassemblable with each other, said latch means comprises a postprojecting downwardly from said roof member toward said body, saidbiasing means comprises a spring coiled about said post and compressedto bias said roof member upwardly out of assembly with said body, saidlatch means further comprises means on said post and on said triggermeans vertically interengaging to prevent said upward motion of saidroof member when said interengaging means are in vertical alignment, anddisengaging upon lateral displacement of said trigger means during abroadside collision.
 8. Game apparatus as in claim 7 wherein saidtrigger means comprises a central web extending transversely throughsaid vehicle between said roof member and said body, said target membercomprises at least one panel depending from said web at the side of saidvehicle, an opening being formed in said web to receive said post, saidinterengaging means comprising a tooth formed on said post and a triggertooth projecting from the boundary of said web opening to engage saidpost tooth, said web opening being large enough in the lateral directionto permit sufficient movement of said trigger means in at least onelateral direction relative to said post to dislodge said trigger meanstooth from said post tooth, and said trigger being movable in at leastone lateral direction relative to said roof member in response tolateral impact upon said target panel whereby to dislodge said triggertooth laterally.
 9. Game apparatus as in claim 8 wherein there are twoof said target panels depending from said web at opposite sides of saidvehicle, said web opening being large enough in both lateral directionsto permit sufficient movement of said trigger means in either lateraldirection relative to said post to dislodge said trigger tooth from saidpost tooth, and said trigger means being movable in either lateraldirection relative to said roof member in response to impact uponrespective ones of said target panels whereby to dislodge said triggertooth laterally.
 10. Game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means tocontrol entry into said intersection comprises means under the controlof said player for steering said at least one of the vehicles toward oraway from said intersection along a portion of its associated track. 11.Game apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said steering means comprisesswitching means in said roadway for selecting a path of travel alongsaid one vehicle''s associated track, steerable means on at least saidone vehicle, and means on said one vehicle responsive to said switchingmeans to steer said wheels.
 12. Game apparatus as in claim 11 whereineach of said tracks respectively comprises at least one circuit with aconfiguration topologically equivalent to a figure ''''8'''' and anadditional path bridging between the opposite loops of said figure''''8,'''' and said switching means comprise a switch controllable bysaid player at each intersection of said bridging path with each of saidfigure ''''8'''' loops.
 13. Game apparaTus as in claim 12 wherein eachof said switches comprises a triangular member having threevehicle-diverting vertices effective (a) to determine whether said onevehicle, when approaching said switch in either direction from saidfigure ''''8'''' will continue along said figure ''''8'''' or bediverted to said bridging path, and (b) to determine in which directionsaid one vehicle will traverse said figure ''''8'''' when approachingsaid switch from said bridging path.
 14. A simulated toy vehicle havinga front and sides comprising, a plurality of releasably assemblable bodyelements including a lower body element and a roof element, latch meansnormally restraining separation of said lower body element and said roofelement and being releasable in response to a broadside impact, saidlatch means including, trigger means having a central web extendingtransversely through said vehicle between said assemblable elements, anda pair of target panels depending from said web along opposite sides ofsaid vehicle, said web being wider than said lower body element wherebysaid target panels are normally spaced from the sides thereof, saidlower body element being formed to define a guide platform in which saidweb is slidably received for lateral movement in response to a broadsideimpact on either one of said target panels, a web retaining platesecured to said lower body element and extending across said guideplatform above said web to retain said web on said platform at alltimes, said web and said retaining plate having centrally locatedapertures formed therein generally located in vertical alignment witheach other, a post formed on said roof element and extending towardssaid lower body element, said post having a free end extending throughsaid openings in said web and said web retaining plate in the assembledconfiguration of said vehicle; and a biasing spring encircling said postand being compressed between said roof element and said web retainingplate in the assembled configuration of said vehicle; said post having afirst tooth formed on the free end thereof and said web having a secondtooth projecting inwardly from the boundary of said web opening andlocated to engage said first tooth, thereby to prevent disassembly ofsaid elements, said web opening being large enough in both lateraldirections to permit sufficient movement of said trigger means in eitherlateral direction relative to said post to dislodge said first toothfrom said second tooth upon lateral movement of said web in eitherdirection in response to a broadside impact on one of said targetpanels.
 15. A toy vehicle as defined in claim 14 wherein said web andlower body element have cooperating slot and stop elements formedtherein for limiting lateral movement of said web.